June 24, 2009

Pittsburgh Iran Vigil: Lighting 100 Candles Against the Darkness

Approximately 100 gathered Tuesday evening in Market Square to show support for the democratic movement now underway in Iran and to honor those who have lost their lives in this struggle.

The crowd was a mix of old and young; Persian and non Persian. Many greeted each other with "salam"as the vigil grew.

A poem was read in honor of Neda Agha Soltan, the 26-year old woman shot in the heart at a protest in Iran, who has become the face of the movement when her death was broadcast on YouTube.

A woman who said she had lived through the 1979 revolution in Iran stood up and spoke. She said that she had been waiting a long time to see a new generation of Iranians seek change. She then led many in the crowd in singing an old Iranian folk song. I heard someone behind me comment that it was the old anthem -- the one that was sung "before the monsters took over."

4 comments:

I will be looking for more info on the upcoming Sunday vigil, the earlier the better in order to spread the word. Thanks for pics from Tuesday. I'm glad the president is keeping low-key to avoid the "Great Satan" crap but we in the grassroots, I hope in multitudes, should show our solidarity for the freedom seekers in Iran!

here is the location:Google Map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?client=firefox-a&hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100348082717851082687.00046d18d94e250c7d3cbsunday at 3 to 5. pass the word around for the next gathering of iranians in pittsburgh. this coming sunday